Pilot's Reckless Mistakes Kills Instagram Star!

A pilot made perhaps a last-minute decision that led to the fiery death of everyone on his plane, including an Instagram model and other social media influencers.
This incident took place on April 9, 2018, in Scottsdale, Arizona, when N9456P, a Piper PA-24-260, crashed shortly after takeoff. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims and my hope is this debrief helps others avoid a similar fate. If you'd like to learn more about other pilot reckless mistakes, then please check out one of these videos:
👉Pilot Reckless Mistakes End in Deadly Disaster! • Pilot's Reckless Mista...
👉 Pilot's Reckless Mistakes Caught on Camera! • Pilot's Reckless Mista...
#aviation #flying #pilotdebrief
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Full NTSB Docket: data.ntsb.gov/...
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[@pilot-debrief]

I need to debrief myself: I made more of a point than I should have about which seat Erik was in. You can be a PIC from either seat. As a career-long fighter guy, I never had to think about left/right seat until I retired and moved to the airlines. In this tragedy, I’m not sure how much CFI time Erik had. Maybe he was very comfortable in the right seat, maybe not. His primary job for several months leading up to the crash was using his ATP as a PIC/SIC and not as a CFI. Either way, the flight shouldn’t have taken place, but when it did, James shouldn’t have been allowed on the controls on takeoff (assuming he was on them). I was only able to debrief myself because of your comments. So keep them coming. I try to read them all because I know I’m not perfect and your feedback helps me make the next video better. This terrible tragedy took place on April 9, 2018. My condolences to families and friends of everyone whose lives were lost that day and my hope is this debrief helps other pilots avoid a similar fate. If you want to learn more, then please check out these other pilot reckless mistakes! 👉Pilot Reckless Mistakes End in Deadly Disaster! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTVe6miot95hrs 👉 Pilot's Reckless Mistakes Caught on Camera! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d32rcqlrop6jZ8k

[@Theeporkchopxprezz]

I am James Pedroza's older brother. I had never expected to see this on your channel because it happened years ago. I had wondered if you had heard about it the other day and here we are. What you reported absolutely correct. I appreciate your point of view on this crash. Thank you for an honest evaluation of this crash.

[@iancarisi8342]

As a fellow pilot and CFI with over 5,000 hours dual given, even when I fly with my friends for fun I sit in the right seat as I am more comfortable flying from the right seat.

[@guy999]

I will tell you my certified flying instructor always flies from the right seat. He says he feels more comfortable over there.

[@pilot-debrief]

To James’s brother. Thank you for your comment and I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad you found this to be an honest assessment as I always do my best to be as accurate as possible as I know friends and family of those in my videos, like you, might end up watching them.

[@douglaswhitcomb9729]

Excellent points here. The 260 Comanche is also a complex/high performance airplane. It’s not what I would call a good choice for a primary training platform. Add to this a scenario where a student pilot who hasn’t soloed, an unfamiliar CFI, above maximum payload, high DA, an under performing engine, and high terrain that surrounds KSDL. The holes all lined up. I always talk about humility being the cornerstone of flight deck discipline and SMS. CFIs need to stress this on day one of training. I also brought this up in dialogue around the KA-350 accident at KADS. If you are involved with someone/something that you know doesn’t meet the basic requirements of aviation standards and safety, walk away from it. You really feel for those who were lost and their families. The passengers were just looking to have a great time. Thank you, Hoover. You’re a positive and impactful proponent of aviation safety and knowledge.

[@tammaramma]

As a flight instructor I tell my students probably one of the most difficult maneuvers in flying isn't an actual maneuver. It's saying no when everyone wants you to say yes. Whether it's weight, weather, or whatever, it's really difficult to disappoint. Flying just doesn't tolerate too many mistakes. A very sad story for sure.

[@Cunningstunts23]

Well said

[@InmateHunterBiden]

Good to know. 🫡

[@johnbravo7542]

You're the kind of pilot I want fly with.

[@simonf8902]

As soon as you said student in left seat I went 😢

[@amamdawhatever]

100% yes!!! Nothing will challenge a pilot more than saying "no"!

[@dhvoith]

I'm a retired airline pilot who was furloughed for 8+ years after 9/11. For about 4 years I flew cargo internationally in classic 747s. On a couple of occasions I restricted the cargo weight because we were approaching max limits. I was chastized by a couple of old crusty flight engineers. They said "that's not how you make money in the freight business". Maybe so but here I am years later talking about it with an accident free career. Some additional things to consider: Is the engine/engines producing full power? Are the passenger/cargo weights accurate? Does the aircraft really match the performance data in the book? If you do your weight and balance and your number is 1 lb below max are you confident everything is OK and you're good to go? I remember a check airman telling me in training, "hell, there is probably 4,000 pounds of dust on this airplane". Never push the limits but also be wary when you approach them. Be safe!!

[@FSEVENMAN]

Best comment posted sir thank you

[@stevedriscoll2539]

4000 lbs of dust? Sounds like the "shop" I work in...and I certainly wouldn't try to get it airborne.

[@BasicMike]

very interesting comment.

[@nickkerr5714]

How many of those crusty old guys had issues?

[@dhvoith]

@@nickkerr5714 These guys were great to fly with and when push came to shove always had my back. Sometimes they just weren't as conservative as I'd like them to be.

[@deeprollingriver52]

That flight was meant to be a “LOOK AT ME!” moment for their egos on social media.

[@dsan94]

The passengers are not at fault. The student and instructor are at fault

[@Hendoggy909]

Social media is at fault

[@oscaburns]

Yep, spot on.

[@porterde08]

@@Hendoggy909social media is a construct. Let it get rid of the dummies who use it.

[@SAMIAm-sm6ki]

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.🤷‍♂️

[@dlkline27]

I'm not a pilot but have been an aircraft enthusiast since I was five years old (I'm 85 now). I find these Pilot Debrief videos some of the most interesting viewing on this platform. Thank you Hoover.

[@FSEVENMAN]

Indeed sir Hoover does a great job with these videos

[@matoko123]

Me too. I'm hooked. You've got 23 years on me though old man ;)

[@tomarmstrong1281]

As a long-time instructor, examiner, private, and commercial, this reminded me of a sad incident which started in the UK and ended in four deaths in a field in France almost 35 years ago. The low-hours owner and pilot of a Becch Bonanza was planning a trip to the South of France with his wife and two teenage daughters. I was in charge of the FTO on the field but had no authority over private pilots and privately owned aircraft. I knew the owner, mostly by sight, and asked him whether he needed any advice in the planning room. I was alarmed that the synoptic showed a well-defined cold front over France, which was positioned 90 degrees to his track, and he would be approaching from the cold sector and that he would be flying VFR as he was not instrument rated. I asked him to seriously consider the flight as he would almost certainly encounter cloud associated with the front. His response was that the Bonanza was a powerful aircraft and he would climb above the cloud. And off they went. Three hours later they were all dead.

[@Deadfoot-Dan]

Reckless arrogance has led to many deaths. Some folks are just not the kind of people who should be in charge of others safety.

[@richardkudrna7503]

Climb above the cloud on his VFR ticket. Sad.

[@davebox588]

Was he maybe on an FAA license/certificate? Otherwise 'VFR on top' is not a thing here. Also, up to maybe FL300 in a Bonanza? Craziness.

[@Pete-tq6in]

There seems to be a personality issue with a lot of low time pilots who can afford to buy high performance aircraft. The sort of people with that kind of wealth are used to getting their own way and they’re extremely self-assured. They’ve succeeded financially and socially better than the vast majority and they develop superiority complexes as a result. This invariably leads them to get into dangerous situations that a more level-headed and less self-confident pilot wouldn’t. Also, most pilots who start flying with limited resources tend to likewise be constrained to flying aircraft with limited performance, which completely remove the option of flying above bad weather and tend to give the low-time pilot a bit more decision making time. ‘Get-there-itis’ is a confirmed killer, as is the need to show off in front of pretty girls. It seems that both of these were factors in this unfortunate incident.

[@tomarmstrong1281]

@@Pete-tq6in My personal experience leads me to agree in all departments. Sadly there is no cure for the overestimation of personal ability. Also right seat/left seat is an Airline thing. It ought not to matter overly in the private field, except maybe for complex types with a panel layout customised by an advanced owner/ pilot.

[@dan-bz7dz]

I get the feeling many accidents have one thing in common. Complete disegard for rules and SOP.

[@pilot-debrief]

Yep, definitely a big factor in a lot of mishaps!

[@mikev4089]

Also these female pilots are not that good and smart people avoid them.

[@Phiyedough]

I get the feeling that US culture tends to prioritise individual freedom above collective responsibility and there is consequently a fairly relaxed attitude to rules.

[@H2R5GSXR]

Yes, you are correct. How I am still alive is a mystery to me.

[@mikev4089]

@@Phiyedoughyeah, maybe you should move to North Korea where they really prioritize collectivism.

[@davidlawson3400]

Being in the Air Force myself, it’s nice seeing our pilots out here putting out clear and concise information about mishaps. Keep it up!

[@jerryboics9550]

You dudes lost a jet fighter plane a month ago and had to appeal to the public to help find it ..

[@davidlawson3400]

@@jerryboics9550 I’m not a pilot and that wasn’t the Air Force.

[@fornhunkle]

​@@jerryboics9550 the thing crashed... You act like someone stole it or literally lost it

[@cagneybillingsley2165]

as standards decline across the board, this will happen more and more

[@SadieMeadors]

Gay

[@axer3515]

Flying is like boating; it is unforgiving. No matter how many times you have done a task, the 1st time you make a mistake it might be your last. I quit flying because it was not practical for me any longer. We had a small plane I could fly,but when it came to renting one it got to be too much. I have flown with pilots who have a lot of experience, so they take shot cuts to get in the air. I flew with a plot who flew between Maine to Boston running a diaper service. He used to joke the plane could fly itself because of the number of flight he had made. A few weeks after I quit to return to college, he flipped the tops off some trees while coming into land at a friends runway. He tried to recover the plane but it was too damaged to climb. He was killed when the plane nose dived into a barn and burst into flames. He was 55 years old and a former fighter pilot. His wife sold his other planes,and never allowed his kids to fly. His youngest is a pilot for Ryan Air in Europe and I see him once or twice a year. He is the only one who flies,but he has told me many times that his dad's death made him a by the book pilot who never skips a step. He even declares silence on landing and take off in his private plane. I write this to say you do a service with these videos,and I would bet you have saved lives with the information and advice you give. So, thanks.

[@Chicharrera.]

I demand silence while driving my car. If I'm driving I don't allow any talking to me, no radio, no eating, nobody is allowed to touch their phones. I don't want a single distraction while I'm driving. Anyone who doesn't like it doesn't get to sit in my car. It's non negotiable. I'm 53 years old and have never been in a crash.

[@lawv804]

​@Chicharrera. Your car, your rules. I've been called lame and a nerd for making all my passengers buckle their seatbelts

[@WiscoKnight0806]

@@lawv804 My life was saved by the belt twice, because no matter how safe you are, other people can ruin your day. I refuse to move my vehicle until everyone is buckled up. Cousin of mine thought it would be cute to unbuckle after we got on the road, so I pulled over and we sat there until he buckled. No exceptions.

[@misaelfraga8196]

​@@lawv804 nerd.

[@jpesicka492]

More people need to take boating as seriously as you take aviation. A lot of people use boating as a reckless occasion to get drunk which is disgusting.

[@daves4589]

It’s shocking to me just how many people treat aviation so recklessly. It’s not a game. As tragic as the loss of life was, what if they plowed into a house or a crowded store? Aircraft are engineered with limits for a reason. If you don’t obey those limitations, you are a fool. No way in hell I’d climb in that plane with 5 passengers. And if no weight and balance was performed, inexcusable.

[@tjroelsma]

Could it be that private aviation is so common in the US? I mean: the sheer number of privately own and flown aircraft is staggering, which might make it seem to aspiring pilots that "flying is as easy as driving a car" and therefore they severely underestimate the risks and dangers of flying. If your car is overweight, that's not much of a problem, but especially in small airplanes, weight is a crucial factor.

[@daves4589]

@@tjroelsma I think you are exactly correct. I live by a general aviation airport and it’s incredible how busy it is. I think some do equate flying to driving as the old saying goes, “it’s safer”. But it’s only safer when you stick to the protocols and limits. This appears to be a young guy wanting to show off for some pretty girls and a young instructor scared to say no. Seems to be not so out of the ordinary and that’s scary. As instructor, you are ultimately responsible. Grow a pair and say no. I do understand though that the vast majority of instructors are by the book. So not a criticism of all.

[@e.l.norton]

In brief, people are STUPID. Not reckless. They're stupid. Flat-out imbeciles. People don't know what they don't know, and they're perfectly fine with that. Knowledge is so totally "Boomer". Oh, my Goooood. It's cool to be a moron.

[@dallasbristol62]

Hate to say it but FAFO. Humans are notoriously stupid.

[@daves4589]

@kch01-oo4xe part of it is a youth thing. We have all done stupid crap. Maybe I’m just getting old?😂 All the performance specifications are there for a reason. Not just the hell of it. I know exactly how small that model aircraft is. Cramming five adults in one is a terrifying thought. Seat not secured? And someone still put their butt in it? Lots of reckless decisions made. Even with those they had an enormous runway to set right back down on but STILL carried on.

[@rafaeloda]

Here in Brazil a lot of fishermen rent planes to take them into remote areas for fishing. Usually on Senecas, they ALWAYS try to take the fish back with them and the pilot ALWAYS has to explain that the plane is not a car or truck. Just because there is space it doesnt mean the plane can carry it. Cargo capacity is by weight, not volume.

[@MixologistMilo]

Great example 👍

[@jamescaron6465]

And balance. 25kg in the wrong spot can shift the center of gravity to the point to where that plane isn’t gonna be stable

[@jjr1728]

​@@jamescaron6465and labradors. It's always good practice to have a labrador with you as labradors bring good luck and are a pilots best friend

[@renancervi7954]

I would be disappointed at the pilot if they tell me that just after I was done fishing, it’s the whole purpose of the trip! They could have said no before taking off.

[@Omni_Shambles]

Where I'm from you use a boat to go fishing. You Brazilians should try it sometime. 🤣🤡

[@moonshade99]

One of the best aviation qoute"Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect."

[@moosecat]

I'm a dried up Merchant Marine. One of the sayings I had to learn in college was: "The sea is selective: slow in recognition of effort and achievement, but fast in sinking the unfit." I guess the more modern equivalent to that is "play stupid games, win stupid prizes".

[@dre32pitt]

Dudes will do almost anything and ignore warning signs when the possibility of getting laid, let alone getting laid by 1 or more IG stars... that lil head is going to override a lot of common sense

[@dre32pitt]

@@mikecollon100 I think in this case.. the potential of laying with one or more of the IG models was too much and the lil heads took over and overrode logic.. pretty normal if you think about it.

[@LTVoyager]

@@mikecollon100Isn’t that true of every thing in life? Pretty much everything bad that happens to us is due to a bad choice somewhere along the way.

[@davidferrara1105]

well said @mikecollon100

[@maximiliengrange3707]

“Newer” pilot here, just discovered this channel and I have been binging all videos and they reinforce the first question my instructor asked me “what question should you ask yourself before a flight” “…” - “is the flight safe to happen”. Thank you for the debrief, it is definitely helping in decision making, I cancelled so many flights with friends for many reasons, these reinforce my choices.

[@jacobstravail]

I'll never let you fly me rookie!

[@quantumpotential7639]

You're rolling the dice 🎲 with every flight. If you remain a land lubber your chances of living improve dramatically. For best results either walk or simply stay put. For even better results pray.

[@SH-ly1uy]

An other lesson learned: stay away from people who call themselves influencers and people who claim to have bought a plane but actually only bought a fractional interest.

[@EdwardSnortin]

The world needs less "influencers" so I see this as a win.

[@sl-nz3kh]

Exactly what a looser.

[@ryanduray1]

​@bearinch Definitely not a good idea to jump in a plane when the guy behind the stick does blow and X, unless it's Denzel Washington.

[@sgtjonzo]

​@@EdwardSnortinyou're talking about 4 people who died horrifically here, have some fucking respect

[@helbent4]

@@sgtjonzo Six people. I was going to make a similar joke about how influencers don't count. But even I have standards.

[@hosseinhosseini4194]

Having more than 3000 hours of flight, even thinking about doing flight lessons in a overgrossed out of CG , with 6 people at night is enoght to preventing me from sleep tonight. This was one crazy flight.

[@mr.ginnationfunlifestyle3891]

And one stupid instructor with a dandy student pilot. What a horrible Szenario.

[@johnl9977]

It's OK, there are plenty of up and coming "Influencers" ready to take their place. They are already forgotten by now.

[@ChasingRainbows67]

​@@johnl9977... Yup, everyday!!

[@OnerousEthic]

…not to mention Density Altitude of 3,300 msl!

[@therealrobinc]

​​@@OnerousEthicyou're so right! DA must be understood & respected. It affects the performance envelope of your aircraft by altering the stall speed & rate of climb.

[@marcrodstein1745]

I have been a pilot for 57 years, and years ago I owned the same type of aircraft (Comanche 260). A couple of corrections: The Comanche 260 was available from the factory with the rear seats mentioned in the video. It had 6 sets of seatbelts and the aircraft was certified to carry 6 people. However, there is a weight limitation to the rear seat area (which also serves as the baggage compartment). As I recall it was 125 or 150 pounds, which limited the rear seat to at most one adult or two children. Since both the instructor pilot and the student had almost zero experience with this aircraft, they were probably ignorant of this weight limit. By illegally putting two adults in the rear seats, the airplane was automaitically overloaded and out of balance. Clearly they did not do a weight and balance calculation as required by FAA regulations. Likewise, the instructor's unfamiliarity with the aircraft may be why he was unaware that the engine was not producing full power. If he had been in experienced in the aircraft, he may have known that the performance he was getting the first time flew it was sub-par. Second correction, this aircraft was not a 1964 Comanche as mentioned on the video. The FAA recoirds show it as a 1970 A-24-260 Comanche. This fact is trivial and did not contribute to the accident. The risk factors on this flight were many and compounded each other. An overloaded and out of balance aircraft, flown by a student and commanded by a pilot inexperienced in the aircraft, at night, and without proper pre-flight preparation. What could go possibly wrong? The fact that the engine was not making full power was a contributor to the accident, but the outcome would almost surely been the same even if the engine were 100%. As soon as all those people boarded the airplane, this flight was doomed. Very sad.

[@lightwaters]

How come aircrafts like this requiring a weight balance dont show an instrument saying aircraft above required weight limit....The Industry should mandate all old aircrafts to have simple measures like this built in to mitigate such scenarios from happening.......elevators have this built in ...I am shocked an aircraft a flying elevator essentially does not

[@fredbloggs545]

@@lightwaters Or signage indicating the weight limit of each seat.

[@darrinkulyk9560]

Think Proper Loading Is PART Of The Preflight .

[@ZeitGeist_TV]

​@@lightwatersYou can also add that the pilot was clearly showing off and that peer pressure and narcissistic behavior wouldn't allow him to simply abort the takeout. To have nearly a mile of runway left and not immediately abort is crazy.

[@MoneyLine_Clay]

@lightwaters or…. They could do the weight and balance, a required item to fly any aircraft legally… and you don’t have this happen.

[@RoamingHeathen]

I take a shot every time you say “we’ll talk more about this later” in your videos. I’m now deceased.

[@apodolsky08]

😂

[@calicatus7556]

🤣

[@Cyntdarling]

I know. I was like where are we going now Jeez lol he talking in circles

[@teddyt]

yet here you are...🙄🤡

[@simrdownmon6431]

You should try using tequila instead of you glock.

[@cyndymalouf1638]

Watching your channel has brought so many memories back flying with my Dad. He had been a flight instructor my whole life. My flying time with him one summer when I was 15 was on Tues and Thursdays. He flew to a resort about 1 hr away to give flying lessons to surrounding pilots. He ALWAYS did his check list. I asked him why he did that and his answer was... it's too easy to overlook something. I am so grateful to the Lord for protecting my Dad during all his years of being an instructor. He passed in 2017 and alot of his students attended his funeral. He was an Awesome Dad and a Great instructor!!!!

[@mskat1954]

Have memories of flying with my dad too. Lots of flight hours. My dad had the 1st helicopter service at Lake Tahoe in the late 60s

[@ViaSandee]

@cyndymalouf1638 ... Cyndy, so sorry to hear your Dad passed away - my Father passed away a few months ago. Both my parents were private pilots, but I never got a chance to fly with either of them - and they were also "by the book". My father even had notes on the dashboard of his truck, sorta like a mini check list. Anyway, your comment reminded me of my Dad, sigh. All the best! ❤‍🩹

[@ahole5388]

sounds exciting

[@ahole5388]

​@@mskat19540:18 sounds exciting

[@hogglinebulldoggs361]

In sorry for your loss sounds like he was a great man ❤

[@CurtBagne]

This would have so easily been avoided with better judgement. 6 adults in a Comanche sounds like a recipe for disaster and a pilot with that level of experience should have been damn sure about the weights and balance when intuition suggests they’d likely be overweight. The urge to not be a wet blanket in front of the IG models may have been what cost them their lives.

[@pilot-debrief]

It was surprising to me that without real seats in the back that they thought it was a good idea to try that flight.

[@Dilbert-o5k]

Two extra passengers behind the normal ones isn't going to do CG calcs much good.

[@tommytutone2584]

Rip, but these younger folks have no common sense at all....plus any type of so called social media influencer does NOT have my respect.

[@steveo20007]

The drive for pussy has killed so many people thoughout history. Sad

[@carlwilliams6977]

​@@pilot-debriefMore 'thinking" is being done by AI devices than internet influencers lately, and most trips to Vegas are not "good ideas"!😊 Wasn't the "instructor" breaking the law by not having restraints for the rear passengers?

[@HandGrenadeDivision]

It's getting harder and harder to tell people, particularly young ones, that rules exist for good reasons. But I guess when you're rich enough to afford flight lessons, stake in your own plane, and a cocaine habit, rules mean even less.

[@NoSaysJo]

Yall drank lead..

[@OnceShy_TwiceBitten]

huh?@@NoSaysJo

[@andyharpist2938]

Especially when they are social media stars or have been overprotected from lifes lessons for all their little lives.

[@E_Static]

​@@NoSaysJoAnd yall take or need drugs for ADHD/ADD

[@NoSaysJo]

@E_Static nah I'm chilling bruh, wbu?

[@MirrorsandMatches]

The growing incompetence in this world is extremely scary....

[@fitnesspoint2006]

nothing new, there will always be incompetence and most humans since the dawn of time are barely functional and mostly incompetent

[@rethablair6902]

Yes nobody values life as if we can all just press reset like in a video game 😢

[@JP-wg3uq]

Years ago, I belonged to a flying club that had two Comanche 260s, and three Piper Arrows. The Comanches had a thrilling amount of power and a reputation for being able to takeoff no matter what you were able to cram in the door. However, one of the reasons I'm still around today is because I refused to exceed the weight restrictions in the Pilot Operating Handbook.

[@richardkudrna7503]

Exactly. Any exceeded limit reduces margins. Sure a twin can actually take off overweight, but what happens with one engine out? Is it even flyable? I talked to a pilot who told me his turn radius by turning into his good engine was miles. Tower was asking him what he was doing, answer was “flying safely”.

[@zipper978]

Well no shit. You should never exceed limits. If you do you’re a dumbass

[@mowtivatedmechanic1172]

@@richardkudrna75032-5 degrees bañó into the good engine typically when an engine dies. Regular turning is around 20-30°’s for context.

[@theboiiiiiiiiiiiiii3870]

Fly straight ahead don’t turn! Loved the Comanche 400 but the 250/260 was the better joice

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

If that Comanche had been firing on all cylinders it may not have ended this way, and as Hoover said, setting it back on the runway was the correct thing to do here, otherwise on the available power it would have required perfect technique and even then, flight safety was not assured. The aft C of G would make it sensitive in pitch.

[@sister_bertrille911]

I once had a delightful conversation with Yvonne Craig, the actress, who was a kind, funny, and very smart lady. She told me that whenever she was flying in a plane small enough that she had to give her weight, she always added 20 pounds to it because she knew that there would always be one or two people who would underestimate theirs.

[@sister_bertrille911]

@@deruberschwarze3943 Heh. She was a very practical lady!

[@mowtivatedmechanic1172]

We add 10lbs to all weights too 😂

[@sarahalbers5555]

She was so right.

[@andreahighsides7756]

They should make people stand on a scale. You can fluctuate 10lbs of water weight pretty easily and I have a pair of chippewa boots that weighs 6lbs. Pretty common for regular jeans and a jacket to be 6-8lbs, heavy clothing could be a lot more.

[@Currancchs]

Great idea! I think I'll do this next time I'm in a similar situation.

[@chrishan9138]

I actually face-palmed when you showed the back row HAD NO SEATS. Too many questions about why this flight went ahead.

[@richardpetty9159]

The people in the back were cargo.

[@paladinhill]

The Commanche 260C has 4 normal seats and an additional two seats which consist of seat cushions on a ledge with back cushions for comfort. All 6 seats have FAA approved seat belts. The rearmost 2 seats were designed for children or small adults. The seats were not the problem, nor were the passengers. The weight & balance and CG issues were the key factors, along with a/c familiarity, night flight, and a weak engine, as well as PIC judgement. Hard to believe an ATP would have conducted this flight.

[@CharlesFreck]

Money. It went ahead for money. "Oh you don't want to do an instructional flight tonight? You have reservations about this situation? How about I pay you an extra $1000 dollars in cash right now?". Money can make someone forget a lot of reservations.

[@bobfangio4713]

Darwinism is uncaring and unforgiving, but effective.

[@golfwhiskey871]

@@paladinhillsounds about as dangerous an attitude as those killed. Just because a light aircraft may be a hare within the maximum legal Weight & CG doesn’t make it prudent or wise with others lives that are trusting you to demonstrate good judgment and safety margins. I have a 324HP 6 seat 185 Skywagon with a useful load of 1,600lbs, 400 more than this plane. I’ll fly at gross, I don’t like it, and never with 6 passengers!

[@rustybones5540]

As a former saftey instructor, I find your videos immensley instructive in the purpose of any training period, to prevent injury, destruction of property, and loss of life or live's. Thank You for maintaining the seriousness of being safe and responsible. MOST EXCELLENT!!!

[@andremichau2455]

I did my private pilot's license when I was 17, with the intention of becoming a commercial pilot. I quickly realized that piloting an aircraft is a weighty responsibility and takes a lot of effort, diligence and intelligence to do safely. I struggled with some elements of flying and I found the instructors to be largely disinterested in actually teaching proficiency. I decided not to pursue a career in flying. Now 55, I spent my working life dealing with both people and machinery, and given their inherent shortcomings am genuinely surprised that flying-related accidents and deaths are not much higher.

[@fritzmuller8246]

As a 747 driver I can assure you , you did well and made the right decision in my opinion

[@sugar_tomato]

This doesn't help with my flying anxiety at all 😅

[@wills7817]

"Driver" ​@@fritzmuller8246

[@almightyem8757]

⁠@@fritzmuller8246why is that? Is it not worth it in your opinion?

[@Skenderbeuismyhero]

They used to be much more frequent. Advances in automatic safety measures and ease of use have cut down on accidents by a huge margin over the past 50 years.

[@grj512]

There’s bound to be more cell phone footage from inside the plane. Her phone was recovered, there’s no way an IG influencer isn’t recording that takeoff from the back seat.

[@nogames8982]

I am sure that all four passengers had their phones going at once.

[@cinyarko]

Most modern phones are encrypted so unless these influencers had no password/pin/fingerprint the data is likely inaccessible.

[@cinyarko]

@alwaysflying6540 is that why governments around the world are trying to make E2E encryption illegal?

[@malicisinfo]

@@cinyarko fingerprint work on a dead body

[@kman_34]

@alwaysflying6540 not true

[@Crookedriverhooligan]

A plane full of Instagram stars? Legends in their own mind. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Crowbrother7]

Yeah, like what could go wrong!

[@Kazuya720]

Anyway, at least 4 innocent people did for nothing. Famous or not.

[@robarmstrong5404]

"Stars"

[@awxiety]

Hate on instagram influencers all you want but they are using modern technologies to make more money than ever before using the internet. Your lack of appreciation for young entrepreneurs using new tools to leverage their careers is not a healthy mindset

[@michealtimmann88]

@@awxiety valid point it's just that theyre usually not very smart when it comes to the real world

[@nikeyrawhide2873]

Flying once with Hawaiian Airlines years ago (red eye to LAS from HNL), a Boeing A330..the plane took off the runway as usual, but before it was piloted to take off the pilot killed the engine and let it slow down to a stop before the end of the runway. He then announced that he detected one of gauge in front of him was not functioning properly, so he decided to not take off and have the plane brought back to the terminal and have the malfunction fix my the maintenance crew..he then said "it's best to be safe than sorry." No one complained, a few clap..and after one hour we were off. I would gladly be delayed one hour than the alternative..the pilot did his job, safety of his passengers were first and foremost in his mind//

[@jond181]

“Better to be on the ground wishing you were up in the air, then to be up in the air wishing you were on the ground” As the saying goes … lol

[@adamblack6867]

There’s no such thing as a instagram star .

[@vaderladyl]

I agree. Stars? Hardly.

[@hkfan4596]

instagram should be shut down as a net negative to society

[@indyd98]

@@vaderladyl Yeah, unfortunately thats the meaning of 'stars' and 'celebrities' today. People who gather mass following of the dumb and narcissistic gen z are celebrated today, instead of people who genuinely contribute to the society. So we have these tiktok and instagram 'stars' who find their place in the garbage bin of history soon after.

[@indyd98]

@@hkfan4596 Agreed. But the real problem is the idiots who use instagram. Even after instagram shuts down, these kids won't be of any use to anyone anyways.

[@Hendoggy909]

In the mind of instagramers there is

[@wadesworld6250]

Here's another element of this tragedy: it's a 4-hour drive from Scottsdale to Las Vegas. The pilot could have refused the flight and they could have taken a fairly short drive and been in Vegas.

[@nelsonmuntz3194]

But then there would have been no video and photos to post on social media bragging about flying private.

[@nickbusker725]

I made this exact drive a few months ago. Pretty enjoyable.

[@benjaminperez1149]

My son in law is a navy pilot. We rented a small aircraft to fly to Palm Springs from SD for lunch. An old guy from WW2 and a pilot, heard of our plans and cautioned us that the wind was too strong and dangerous and to not go. Of course, we listened to him and flew to Carlsbad instead.

[@iwaswrongabouteveryhthing]

nice

[@tysonpadilla8406]

Yeah man, the Santanas get pretty bad out there over the mountains!! Take it from me lol I used to fly a Cherokee 140 out of KSEE

[@gulfstream7235]

Good to hear the son in law, regardless of his experience, took advice from an old timer

[@kimchristensen3727]

Good choice. The Banning Pass can be a dangerous roller coaster often with severe turbulence.

[@benjaminperez1149]

@@kimchristensen3727 it was in the winter and that desert wind meeting that cold mountain air was just a recipe for disaster and that exactly what the old veteran said.

[@LaCasitaCafetera]

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 years since this horrific accident. Helena was my best friend, and I miss her so much. She was more than a “part-time model.” Helena was at the top of her class in her business program at UNLV. A decorated scholar, and business owner. She launched Rebel Fruits, an international produce importing business that was beginning to take off. She was so close to graduating college. But most importantly, she was a devoted daughter and only child. Her loss continues to be felt deeply by her family everyday. If you’re reading this, say a prayer for her mom. It doesn’t get easier. RIH Helena 💜

[@helbent4]

Please accept my condolences. All those people have stories and had lives and families.

[@meep3709]

Beautiful tribute. Wishing you the best❤

[@f.l3450]

Prayers to her loved ones for their loss. 😢

[@kreterakete]

Hugs from bohemian forest. ❤

[@alucardcount9478]

Y was she attracted to drug fuelled tattoos....

[@phillyflyguy3590]

The unsaid thing about this scenario is what peer/social pressure was placed on the licensed pilot. I can almost promise that the "VIP Casino Guy" sitting in the command seat was exhibiting all sorts of "Alpha" behavior to impress the attractive women on the flight, and that the real pilot was ground down to accept this scenario as what was going to happen. Wanting to look good in front of others and being a "people pleaser" is what killed every one of them.

[@MrYport]

no doubt. probably why he took the conventional captains seat, and wanted to do the take off

[@austinlevi3452]

Yea, still Erik’s fault in the end as the only licensed pilot. And you’re making a lot of assumptions here. I may agree that you’re probably right but it’s still best not to assume. Like my mother always said when you ASSUME, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

[@gextreme2381]

Honestly, doesn't matter if that happened or not. Even if they were both professional and not showing off and there was no alpha behavior they were doomed because they were too heavy. I also agree left/right seat doesn't matter in situation - it's who had control of the aircraft. The fact is that weight was calculated wrong, they missed a heavy person and had, no luggage in the calc ! I also can't imagine that a proper run up wouldn't have shown a cylinder problem, but perhaps, with only flying the plan once he might not have - or he did not do, one. Which was the first hole in the Swiss cheese. So sad, condolences to the family and friends. source: am PPL.

[@johndor7793]

@@gextreme2381 How can you say they were doomed from being too heavy if they lifted off the ground? I would assume the mistake they made was turning the aircraft before it gained maximum speed

[@gwkdad]

100% agreement. From the Look what I just bought embellishment to the drug life and under-reporting the weight, this kid was an accident waiting to happen. Too bad Eric has to take 100% of the blame, but ultimately he failed to protect precious cargo.

[@jimford1447]

Tragic loss of six young men and ladies, watching this channel had made me more aware as a passenger on a race team , we fly in twin engine king air and I always sit where I can see the pilot and listen to him on the head sets, the information from this channel helps and makes me more aware of what’s going on ! Thank you

[@pilot-debrief]

You’re most welcome!

[@LetsAct2013]

More like tragic loss of Eric. Can’t say I shed a tear for the other 5 narcissists.

[@cesarmo469]

Just seems like a prime example of the reckless narcissism of the social media generation. However, I’ve met pilots in their 50’s who treat flying with the same recklessness. There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.

[@StringerCourier]

That's the lesson I'm starting to take away from the increasing number of tragic accidents that involve "influencers" and "social media stars" who rate their lives not in experience or common sense but in "followers" and "patreon supporters" and a huge amount of unwarranted wealth.

[@JungleYT]

*I like that, "a difference between confidence and arrogance..." Well said...*

[@williammullinax6130]

Yeah... Because people weren't being reckless while flying before social media... As you state, this isn't a generational issue. There has always been and there will always be those who are reckless regardless of generation. If anything GA is safer today than previous generations...

[@180mph9]

This accident is cut and dry, the PIC made several bad decisions, the partial owner was not at fault, as he was technically only a passenger.

[@vaderladyl]

They are hardly "stars" , just social media content creators@@StringerCourier

[@6thwilbury2331]

Wow, stumbled upon this video while looking for something else. First of all, subbed. Secondly, there's an adage that many people learn fairly early in life when it comes to making decisions: "It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission." However, what people often miss is that its creator (the great Grace Hopper) was ultimately referring to doing the right thing. The ability to say no despite fear of eliciting disdain or dislike is effectively the contrapositive to Hopper's words. We all probably find ourselves facing that dilemma, but doing it in a literal life-or-death situation is a taller ask. One of my best friends is just like you: a retired USAF pilot who now flies for a commercial airliner. He has always had a relatively devil-may-care attitude to him, but not when it comes to flight. This channel is pretty much a public service for many people, so good on ya.

[@LesterHall-kx2yt]

Why fly a plane that old? Anything could go wrong.

[@silent1967]

As soon as you said social media influencer that was all I needed to know. Yes Eric should have said no.

[@northwestprof60]

There is a HUGE difference between tried and true character growth and wisdom and the immaturity of so-called "Instagram Stars."

[@shrimpflea]

What's your point?

[@MrYport]

some influences spout 'wisdom' when they don't have it, or show fake lifestyles for the clicks. lack of being genuine and having real human experience. prioritizing the dopamine click machine over being real @@shrimpflea

[@gingerjessy]

@@shrimpflea Social media inflates people's egos. You ego is not your amigo.

[@arnelgelera242]

Yep...ego = dead

[@tropicthndr]

What happened was they had an absolutely beautiful passenger crew, and they completely ruined it with that disgusting darky, an oddball that brought bad luck to the whole crew. Ugh.

[@ThatBeeMan]

I love watching your videos and here are a few reasons for that. You don't waste my time with pointless opening sequences etc. You get to the point and share detailed but relevant information. I can learn and understand everything there is to know about a situation in a short amount of time. I appreciate your work and your approach to making videos. You respect my time and I respect you for that.

[@pilot-debrief]

Thanks for that!

[@kevinallen1699]

Same ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[@RM-el3gw]

Agreed, it's great you keep things simple and straight to the point. @@pilot-debrief

[@atticusgq]

I agree

[@bballhlightz2964]

I’m not a pilot but I enjoy your videos for the same reason. Very informative and you do a great job of explaining to make even non pilots understand what went wrong and just how complex flying is. It makes me appreciate all my safe flights I have had in my life!

[@Midman1972]

A guy being foolish to impress “little” girls. That flashy tat spoke volumes. You can’t undo fatal errors made on the ground once airborne. A plane/flight is an extension of a pilot’s personal input and control. No control here.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

About 40 years ago I knew about 2 accidents where pilot tried to impress a tourist woman in Costa Rica. One flew too close to the steep cone of an active volcano and a side wind threw him against the cone. The other one tried to fly near ground, probably playing Luke Skywalker skimming the surface on the death star, but he did not have an ekranoplane and ground effect killed them. Tragic and sad and avoidable.

[@u1teixeirat559]

Fiquei em dúvida em marcar seu comentário como "gostei", ainda que sua afirmação tenha um fundo de verdade, porém o fiz. O fato é que quando se é jovem e se vê belas garotas, milhões de coisas passam pela cabeça, e as possibilidades do pós-vôo pareciam boas demais para serem desperdiçadas. Infelizmente, essa atitude individual de um dos ocupantes do vôo, resultou na perda de todas essas vidas. Trágico e devastador para suas famílias.

[@Kwauhn.]

I disagree about his appearance being telling. Your capability as a pilot is conveyed through your actions, and the "flashiness" of your tattoos is completely irrelevant.

[@skipintroux4444]

@@Kwauhn.He isn’t the only one that has reservations about tattoos, I certainly don’t employ people that have visible ones.

[@Kwauhn.]

@@skipintroux4444 That's unfortunate, because there are a lot of good, hard working people who have tattoos for one reason or another.

[@AndrewNorton89]

As a fairly new private pilot, I love watching all of your videos. It makes me think how every day scenarios can end in tragedy if you aren't careful. I appreciate the truthful yet respectful way you review each situation.

[@therealrobinc]

Stay humble, keep learning & stay alert. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@gggaskins8192]

I worked at Scottsdale Airport at the time, and I remember this accident well. This is the first time I've seen a breakdown of the crash. Very tragic what happened.

[@pilot-debrief]

Thank you and I’m sorry you had to be there when it happened.

[@BLESSINGSAREDESERVED]

the video is on live gore. KZbin is for kids.

[@tomtom6319]

I am not a pilot but you are so clear on explaining everything i can pretty much understand everything in your commentary.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Same same

[@KimtheElder]

I feel the same and it clarifies that I would never pass a pilots examination. So many details, so much calculation. Mad respect for pilots. 🫡😊

[@BillGreenAZ]

He was so clear on explaining everything that I feel I can fly now. :D

[@keepingtheswineinline7126]

My granddad, a 49+ year crop duster, told me when I started my flying career that there are old pilots and there are bold pilots. There are NO old bold pilots. I think this is a perfect example of what he was telling me!

[@smark1180]

How original!

[@gavl9449]

I have been told the same... back in 1985 when I started flying it was poster on the wall at my flight school

[@smark1180]

@@gavl9449 Right, so his comment isn't original. It's a very old saying.

[@user-gl9iz1bp1r]

Reality is a cruel mistress. She always wants respect and attention. If you don't, she may f*** you.

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

cringe

[@sludge8506]

Lesson taught by the late sam kinison.

[@carlosenriqueulloa]

Physics doesn't care about your likes.

[@JustMe-fo4ev]

@@carlosenriqueulloa cringe

[@fitnesspoint2006]

@@JustMe-fo4ev you seen to live in a fantasy, cancer, disease and disability are real, grow up, CRINGE

[@desdicadoric]

Instagram’model’as a job title 😂😂😂

[@sarahalbers5555]

That and "influencer".

[@Caleb-qr6lo]

Anyone that’s begging you to go on a flight to a nightclub is probably not someone that is capable of making good decisions/judgment

[@onemoremisfit]

And the report said the student pilot having hard drugs in his system was probably not a factor in the crash, but that fact would raise questions of decision/judgement insofar as allowing him to be a student pilot or at the controls of the aircraft at all. The whole flight was a party junket of reckless attitudes in an overloaded bad engine aircraft.

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

Not to mention the cocaine and ecstasy. I'm an old lady now, I've never done ecstasy, I wasn't a saint at that age but I also wasn't attempting to learn to fly an airplane. Reminds me of the Aaliyah crash, short trip, pilot not very experienced with the airplane, low levels of cocaine in his blood, 7 passengers in airplane with 6 seats. The passengers included a music video crew with their various equipment---camera crew, make up artist, costume artist, body guard. Flight lasting just about one minute. Many things done NOT the correct way ends horribly.

[@marshaul]

I think it's more likely that being the pilot for a plane full of Instagram stars caused temporary insanity and subsequent death by suicide.

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

How in the world can they take off, without doing a weight and balance? As a student pilot myself, it is drilled into me that before any flight, even doing circuits, you do a weight and balance. This was 100% preventable.

[@sgtbrown4273]

It's literally one of the first things you're taught in ground school.

[@hydraulics]

Hot girls and peer pressure seems like

[@ld1994]

Narcissists like them NEVER think rules or Laws of Physics apply to them

[@therealrobinc]

Be thankful you've a professional, conscientious & safe CFI.

[@Radiogirl1931]

I only do a weight and balance if something has changed like, I'm flying by myself, vs flying with an instructor, not before every flight. But if something drastic like fuel and luggage or something changes I do one.

[@victormorales8408]

My biggest fear is to be starred on an episode of this channel. That feeling of not 100% complying with your gut to say “no” as a CFI in this situation with the presence of the peer pressure of 5 other people… Hard to say in the moment if I’d make the same mistake or not (which I, as any other aviation safety professional, would sure hope not). As a pilot and a CFI I wanna be better, and above all, a safe one at that. Although most of these scenarios are 100% avoidable, your channel is a huge reminder for me to stay on top of my game. Safety slips in small stages. Thank you for making me a better pilot and please- keep making these videos. 💯

[@mares3841]

Yes. A signed contract helps.

[@bear532]

I don't fly at all, but I have been boating since I was a kid. When you're the captain you are responsible for everyone's safety, just as a pilot are. As long as your only concern is a safe trip, regardless how you make other's feel, you did a good job. I've yelled at friends of friends before while I was the captain when they've put their safety or others in jeapordy. I'd rather have everyone hate me than cause harm to others.

[@pcgenie-la]

I'll never forget what Michael Bloomberg said about flying. ( he owns and flies a helicopter): "I like aviation because if you don't follow the rules, you die". I myself maintain a attitude somewhere between fear of and respect for flying. I know it will try to kill me, and that keeps me sharp and focused.

[@makaveli087]

*Reminds me of that time Bloomberg noted* "Well, I've been gay my entire life but I actually became a Registered Democrat in 2018. My boyfriend thinks Donald Trump is kinda cute so I've always disliked him for that. It's also my Daddy issues."

[@ehombane]

Flying is just impressive, but I think that it is not more dangerous than driving or cooking. Statistics may prove or disprove my hunch. But car crashes happens a lot more often. Sure, cars are a lot more than planes, and this is why a statistic is needed. Anyway, flying was not that killed them, but teribilism. When you cook and your butane tank explodes is just an accident. You really need to eat. When you drive to work and a drunkard jumps on your lane, also, it is an accident. You really need to go to work. But when you are an cool kid and take a trip just for the chills, well, you do not really need it. So, what we have here, an instagram celebrity. Was she famous for her math skills? And we have an tattooed drug addict. Yes, he was not stoned right now, but it reveals his lifestyle. Now, the pilot could have been an serious and responsible guy. But the entire fault seems to lie on his head. As a cool kid you know that gust of wind, or a big bird can take you out of the sky, but is unlikely, and you take the risk. But as a trained pilot, you know better then to load a plane at capacity and then toy around. But he did it though. Why? For sure because of the crowd mood. They were cheerful, but he was the macho man, and he could not step down from the high stool. He would have looked like a sissy if he would not accepted the job, or ditched two passengers. So he took the risk. And he paid the ultimate price for it. I may be wrong. But this is how I see it.

[@swoosh4644]

@ehombane I don’t do drugs or drink and have a couple tattoos. Sooo what’s my life style like? 😒

[@AntonioPerales-bb8pm]

​@@makaveli087His obviously crappy boyfriend has crappy taste. Bloomberg also alleged that Ukraine "is a democracy (not hardly!) which needs to be protected." He should just shut up.

[@makaveli087]

@@AntonioPerales-bb8pm Ukraine? You mean *More Russia?*

[@gavl9449]

I'm a low hour pilot but dream of flying every week. I found your video very useful. I watch many air crash investigations and used to read our (Australian) safety journals regularly. No lecture or instruction holds the same weight as a real world example and you provide very good clear examples of what to do and what NOT to do. Thank you.

[@alangil3493]

Hoover, you do more to inform us about flying and dumb things people should not do when flying. As another pilot once said: don't do anything dumb, different, or dangerous. Thank you sir!

[@pilot-debrief]

You’re welcome! I appreciate it!

[@mxslick50]

My instructor used to call it the 4D rule: Dumb or different or dangerous equals death. No maybe or probable about it.

[@WillowOrdalon]

As a student pilot, I love watching your videos and am learning so much. Thank you! I’ve finished ground school and find it surprising that the student pilot was claiming to need only a few more hours before his solo, yet he didn’t seem to understand the importance of doing accurate the weight and balance calculations. It’s even more astonishing that the instructor didn’t know they were overweight. Condolences to the families…so sad that these young lives were lost.

[@pilot-debrief]

Great point! James definitely should have known how to do weight and balance!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

@@pilot-debrief - Yep, the blame lies solely with him. He screwed up a bunch of times here. So much for being "by the book."

[@PriusTurbo]

Unfortunately, James was trying to impress the friends and also get laid in Vegas. He was definitely one of those "it's all good bro!" types that thinks you can just use positive vibes to make everything happen including keeping an overweight aircraft aloft. I find great pleasure in telling people "NO" and being a voice of reason. People in general are dumb and unreasonable and if you don't stop them, they will treat a plane like it's an SUV. "C'mon guys we can fit! Vegas awaits!"

[@matthewchina2755]

My ex-fiance is a flight attendant for private jets. She called be one day from somewhere saying they were overweight, but the clients wanted to bring wine back the pilots were afraid to speak up beyond the first volley with the clients. I talked her into putting her foot down, and she did (she has amazing people skills and is gorgeous) and some crates of wine got shipped later. To this day it gives me chills.

[@bigpauliep6992]

I fail to see what her attractiveness has in this instance, aside from implying she used it to get her way. That being said, she's your ex, so we can safely conclude that she lessened the weight on this flight further by also refusing to swallow.

[@wfemp_4730]

I used to date someone that was gorgeous, too. What a small world.

[@medicchester]

I had a dream of this.

[@bwinford1561]

Dammit boy! @@wfemp_4730

[@megalamanooblol]

@@bigpauliep6992 Thats..... thats not how weight works, in fact if she swallowed she would lessen the weight.... eventually.

[@TheDrexxus]

It's genuinely crazy just how easy it is to die just from a single moment of recklessness or negligence. You don't need a plane for it, even cars are the same thing. Being distracted for just one second or doing one thing wrong can turn a completely uneventful trip like any other into a death. People are given way too much responsibility when they aren't ready for it yet. Guy wanted to show off for some girls by flying them on a plane "he owned" to Vegas where he was a big shot at a club, and ended up killing them all and himself.

[@StvzNuts]

Instagram Star?! OK, then I'm a Call of Duty soldier. 🤣

[@WhoDidIKill]

Why be disrespectful to someone who died tragically?

[@cathyl2338]

Exactly.

[@StvzNuts]

@@WhoDidIKill I'm not being disrespectful to these people specifically. I'm saying that calling people "stars" just because they're on Instagram is a stretch. As I said, that's like calling yourself a soldier because you play video games.

[@XxPeytonTurnerXx]

@@StvzNutsI mean they’re not “just on instagram”, they’re models & influencers that have hundreds of thousands of followers. Nowadays being on IG/Twitter is a lucrative income, these girls make millions off brand deals and ad revenue.

[@simrdownmon6431]

​@StvzNuts non the less, this is bad place to state your opinion. Shows you have bad taste.

[@gsstacker]

Hoover, I forgot to mention, absolutely great job on your videos. As a pilot myself (private pilot - I don't fly anymore), there are just so many things that were burned into my brain as a young guy learning to fly back in the early 80's. Weight and balance was among THE most important, not to mention, great flight instructors and overall just good, solid common sense. The primary focus was always safety, safety, safety. This was just a tragic accident that could have easily been avoided. Great job.

[@pilot-debrief]

Thank you so much!

[@9001days]

I live in Scottsdale and I hope that no one like these people ever come to these airports ever again

[@paulstirling7139]

I'm just starting my training for my PPL, videos like these really prove just how important procedures are and how serious your mind set needs to be if you plan on arriving anywhere safely. I greatly appreciate having a fighter pilot guide me towards being the safest and best pilot I hope to become through these debriefs.

[@pilot-debrief]

Glad to help! Stay focused and you got this!

[@dougtaylor7724]

Never bend the rules. They break easily. Broken rules can mean dead people. The data for an aircraft took many talented people hundreds of hours to write. They are rarely wrong. Someone needed to be the adult that said no. I’m sure a passenger would have been mad to be told they couldn’t go. But they would have lived long enough to get over it.

[@wootle]

Never feel pressured to do a flight. Specially with friends and family. You WILL face these situations. If you dont feel comfortable and confident DO NOT DO IT. Fly like an airline pilot , always use the checklist (even if you've flown that plane a million times), do the weight and balance, check the weather, do a good preflight, do a good safety talk, dont do high risk flights (flying into canyons, scud running, buzzing) ,always have an out. If something goes wrong FLY the plane first. Memorize essential emergency drills checklists. If you can - get the IFR rating. Happy flights!

[@richardwarnertx]

Hey, new pilot, welcome to the flying world. I started flying in 1960 and I have some suggestions for you: (1) follow procedures and (2) until you get 1,500 hours, don't ever buzz, and after you get 1,500 hours, don't ever buzz.

[@ILruffian]

Agree 100% about not bending rules. I got subjected to a wrong surgery. Checklist designed to prevent it caught the problem, and the POS orthopedic surgeon involved was able to talk the OR nurse into allowing him to proceed. Later found out the guy had prior discipline for a another wrong surgery. @@dougtaylor7724

[@landrecce]

James might have paid Eric $$$ to sit in the pilot seat. He seems like the kind of guy to think rules don't apply to him personally.

[@52daytripper]

or that money can get him whatever he wants

[@TommyTipex]

Maybe so but just like the sad end of Kobe, or actually how the man that taught my old instructor to fly pushed himself too hard to make a VIP pick up, pilots need to really put their foot down and accept people will be upset when they know it's dangerous to fly. A bit of reputation loss or money isn't worth your life.

[@Ali-e5h1b]

@@TommyTipex The meek shall inherit the Earth... Because the brazen will kill themselves trying to take it...

[@alexadamou7039]

Physics applied to him personally.

[@randomentity6553]

Hubris kills.

[@Adrenaline416]

15 years earlier I was an instructor at this airport. It looks like they were trying to turn back to the airport on partial power and stalled out trying to maintain altitude. Probably the biggest reason I'd turn that flight down was because they wanted to fly single engine at night over mountainous terrain. There's no place to set down an aircraft between Phoenix and Vegas, it's all mountains and you can't see the ground to find an area to land if the engine fails as there aren't any lights or highways. So as instructor asked to fly a plane that I wasn't familiar with (wasn't a plane I few everyday etc) and I had no idea if it was even maintained properly, I'd at least say we'll fly during the day (so I can see where to try to land if the engine craps out) and everything else would also be by the book (weight, fuel, CG, etc). Every flight lesson I ever gave one we started emergency procedure training, I'd ask the student before we took off, "Where are we going to land if the engine fails immediately after takeoff with no runway remaining?" and my students would confirm with me where the best possible area to aim for would be, (I had told them in prior lessons where the best chance to land was, generally straight ahead). Even later flying jets pilots had a standard takeoff briefing every flight; it was an SOP and had to be briefed. In this case a bunch of innocent passengers died because of the, "kick the tire, light the fire' mentality.

[@greatcollector9362]

Good headwork,,,,,,always review the performance section and have a plan "b" ,,,,

[@78tag]

My take away from this is that there were no adults involved the decision making of that flight.

[@hossemadian7127]

I'm a Health and Safety professional and as much as it is sad to hear , I appreciate these stories. Incidents teach us about human behavior and psychology. It's not always about equipment malfunctions and failures. Incidents happen when a system fails and are usually due to multiple causes. This is why it's so important to be 'by the book' and to not ever get complacent. Procedures, processes, and programs are DESIGNED to be in place. If we skip steps, we expose ourselves to untreated risk, which can find a way through a thinner swiss cheese stack.

[@julybear8019]

I follow both your and Blancolirio's channels and the message that comes through over and over again is that flying is no joke and needs to be taken seriously. It also takes a darn good knowledge of math, physics, meteorology, mechanics, communication skills and the ability to comprehend technical literature. My hats off to both of you gentlemen for explaining this to us all.

[@robd2184]

There’s not actually much maths in flying , a lot of chart interpretation and some basic sums . What we value above all is common sense I think

[@Colorado_Ronin]

What math?

[@antonmeyer7369]

Some few channels are doing this, but this must be the best, highlighting what pilots and passengers get up to under social pressure.

[@donbuethorn1618]

Eric had 5000 hours in his log book but he learned the most in the last 70 seconds…

[@BFProductionsLLC]

Another Reckless mistake is to ever take those so-called influencers with you anywhere.

[@Kwauhn.]

Why? You're responsible for your own actions as a pilot. This story would be no different if the pilot agreed to fly 6 accountants under the same conditions. The pilot got everyone killed, not the influencer.

[@bradleyburns1959]

So much to unpack in this accident. Hits home for me because I worked at the TPC Scottsdale Golf Course (where the aircraft actually crashed) while I was working on my ratings at SDL in the late 80's and I live in Las Vegas. Too many connectors to be sure. After 34 years and more than 12,000 hours as a professional pilot, I'm still learning lessons through the mistakes of others and this accident is no different. Thanks for your work Hoover.

[@DonatelloLabouche]

😂😂😂 unpack? Tell me you're a beta male, without telling me you're a beta male. 😂

[@rightsdontcomewithpermits7073]

Not an accident. Negligence. And many times it's deadly.

[@whtfsh765]

I'm so tired of all these social media people trying to get attention at the cost of safety and common sense. I was an Airline Pilot for 25 years and was never concerned with trying to show off.

[@pandorin2348]

they got their *attention* alright 🤣

[@SevastianNandez]

Its just kids with childhood issues most their parents absent or children even at old age.

[@kentuckybowl-o-sticks]

BINGO! "Get a GoPro!", they said. "You'll be famous!", they said. They worry about "global warming" killing us all, but can't seem to make it past their thirties.

[@linanicolia1363]

GA is risky......lots of rookies who feel the sky is theirs, right after getting their single engine land certification. They ignore the importance of the weight , often, bad weather and making a turn, too close to the ground when their engine quits....No recovery for that stall, just waiting for them........Bonanzas are not what killed the doctors, but it was the stalls or the contact with unexpected terrain......Yeah. Lost lots of people I knew.....who felt flying was like driving their Mercedes, with wings. Ha...ha..... ...

[@ttdenadaabba2149]

YEA ECXACTLY!! I just got through posting a similar comment! 😮

[@jovid7]

There's seems to be a big difference between those that want to learn to fly because they really enjoy it and take it seriously and those who do it to just be cool.

[@gentryhansen9020]

All the "likes" that he got from posting influential photos as a student pilot in the cockpit filled his head with dead weight and that threw off the W&B.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

Social Media Influencers are about as far from being stars as you can get.

[@ronmoore5827]

Very sad indeed, apparently Eric had yet to learn that Pilot in Command means just that. “I’m sorry James but two of your friends aren’t going to be able to go” would have been an easy choice. Then, “I don’t have much time in this aircraft, so I’m going to do the takeoff and landing tonight” might have saved them. Enjoy your site, always factual and hopefully people learn from it.

[@limefly1207]

Many years ago, after I returned from a night flight, I met 3 students at my local flight club about to go on a night instrument cross country lesson with their instructor. Later, watching the news, I heard that a plane had crashed on take off from my airport, with no survivors. There was a temperature inversion that night and sadly the aircraft didn’t have the performance to climb. Flying is easy, being a pilot requires so much more than simple flying skills.

[@johndough1703]

It’s amazing how your average nobody has 700hp in his twin turbo mustang just to go to the gas station for cigarettes, and people who are at the pinnacle of “risking your life” are willing to go up with such 💩 engines

[@RabidDisposition]

Yea, thats not worth it.

[@AbuHajarAlBugatti]

😂 people dont belong in the sky. Have only flown twice in my life to get to vacation. And the chinese garbage I buy is shipped over the seas. Flying is just a fancy luxury

[@animula6908]

I thought you were going to say flying is easy; not crashing is hard.

[@mymodel6]

@@adspur Are you broken..?

[@Notguilty907]

There are many factors that came into play on this fateful night. One factor, and a very important one that had been absent is common sense. As a retired ER Trauma Nurse I have seen many young lives ebb away on the ER Trauma Table. On many occasions when groups of young people get together in motorized vehicles tragedy is always just a thoughtless moment away. Bravado, arrogance, lacking in knowledge of consequence and finally not trusting your common sense in these situations. Sadly we see this tragic loss of young lives which had so much to live for. Thank you for your detailed and respectful review of this unfortunate and possible avoidable situation.

[@kswman1]

What is also amazing to me is that any "certified" GA pilot - not necessarily a student pilot - after doing weight and balances and progressing to becoming a pilot learns & knows that a 4 place is a 2 place and a 6 place is a 4 place. So I have to think that psychological pressure in the case of the CFI was in play here. Weight and balance should have been done in 1 second... 6 adults - NO CAN DO !! You want to check that 1 second summation, do a weight and balance. Down right sad this had to happen. Clearly there was only 1 single person who had the knowledge to make a flying decision. Everyone else was clearly a passenger and trusting the only pilot aboard. I just found your channel. Lots of good work and sharing going on here... Will be sharing with my pilot friends.

[@purplesprigs]

"Instagram star" - A contradiction in terms, like "A tiny whale."

[@JoeRogansForehead]

“I’m Instagram famous bitch”

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

An honest politician?😂

[@calamitysangfroid2407]

There are tiny whales, because whales are a species. Sounds like Instagram star was mostly buzzwords for news site headlines, they were models and maybe small business owner (the men) who did advertising on Instagram.

[@Jollyswagman7]

⁠@@calamitysangfroid2407So are you going to give us an example of a tiny whale since you were so eager to interject with a microtaxonomy lesson?

[@tuffguy428]

...part time Las Vegas fashion model. (unemployed)

[@kryptokrypto702]

Great content. As someone who has read about, and watched many different bad things that can happen anytime, anywhere in the world, the best advice I can give is: Take your time doing proper checks, take your time driving, whether it's a plane, truck, motorcycle, drone, bicycle, boat, or any vehicle. A few minutes of irritation, road rage, "being a wet blanket", or annoyance is not worth a life, or lives lost. We seem to live in a world where we all have to keep rushing to our next quest, and finishing it as quickly as possible in the game of life. Except it's no game. Take your time. Don't road rage. Do things the proper way. Don't dwell on the minor things. I truly wish for the best for us all. But the cynical side of me usually wins.

[@glasshalffull2930]

This happened decades ago. When I was in training for my pilots license, my instructor, who was in his early 20s and a friend, was going to fly me and my brother up to my grandparents for the day. It was about a hundred miles and skies were clear. My instructor wanted me to fly left seat to log as much flight time as possible. On the return trip, I was also in the left seat. Most of the trip was over rural terrain and we had not seen another aircraft. My instructor wanted my brother, who had no training to have a little time behind the controls and so we were going to switch seats while in flight. I assumed my instructor would take the controls and I would climb in the back and my brother would climb up front. However, my flight instructor wanted me to log as much time as possible, so he said he would get in the back. I was not comfortable with this and voiced my concern, but he said it was okay. Well we did this and flew for ten minutes or so and everything was good. Then, my instructor asked me about the route and I looked down to check the charts. Thirty or so seconds later, my brother said, “There’s a plane.” I looked up thinking it would be a mile away, but it was right their at our altitude and on a crossing collision course. I didn’t do anything, because I thought my brother would react to avoid the aircraft. Thank God, my instructor reached over from the rear seat and pulled up just in time. It was a miracle we missed the guy. To give you an idea of how close it was, we could not agree on the color of the guys airplane or if it was high or low wing, but we all agreed he was wearing Rayban sunglasses. We had screwed up royally and by shear luck had avoided death. My instructor switched back to the right seat and the rest of the trip was very quiet as each of us pondered how close we had come to death.

[@ryanpenrod1859]

Your instructor sounds like a complacent idiot.

[@vampiresforesl]

That flight instructor sounds less competent than Erik in the video above. He was in the back seat??

[@tmayorca8770]

You and the flight instructor screwed up and got lucky

[@glasshalffull2930]

@@tmayorca8770 I think I mentioned that.

[@glasshalffull2930]

@@vampiresforesl I’d say Eric made a series of significant mistakes, whereas my instructor made one bad mistake.

[@bweber6256]

The observation of witnesses that the aircraft looked unstable but then smoothed out would make sense if Erik let James take off and then realizing he was out of his pay grade; took over. That the plane still crashed with possibly Erik at the controls still makes sense. Erik was apparently stressed about the flight before even boarding; at the last minute he is possibly presented with a request from James to fly the take off. The take off itself is interrupted by the controller(for good reason) so at the same time that Erik is possibly trying to salvage the takeoff, he also has to respond to the controller. I doubt everyone in the plane were absolutely quiet during this time which would add even more confusion. Once achieving some measure of stability(briefly) Erik is then met with the limits of the plane which were not only overloaded, but probably had somewhat compromised power due to the broken valve spring. Add to that that it appeared to be a nighttime flight, so visibility for situational awareness was reduced. Your previous videos citing the dangerous attitudes of pilots seems to be at play here as well. James may have had a dose of macho wanting to impress the girls and Erik wanting to complete the mission even though his instincts were probably saying to decline the flight.

[@Vickzq]

There is almost always more going on than people assume. The _girlies_ certainly _selfied_ and screamed later.

[@Chr15T]

Thanks Hoover for another debrief. So far I haven't commented although I have seen quite a number of your videos. Your channel has quickly become my favorite one for accident investigations and learnings from them, only topped by the ASI Case Studies which are excellent but few and rare. So your channel is regular "mental food" for me. I have been a private pilot for 23 years and sole owner of a Mooney M20J for 5 years, flying mainly for travel, in the Western US (with a rental C210) and all around Europe (where my Mooney is based). Throughout, regular perusal of accident reports and videos such as yours have helped me in my continuing learning process.

[@pilot-debrief]

That’s great to hear. Thank you so much!

[@scottstp7084]

Looking back at my career as a former corporate pilot, it’s unbelievable how many times I had to say “NO”! And it’s strange to admit it now, but having to say that face-to-face to a celebrity or a billionaire used to make me kinda shaky.

[@user-wl6bw3jl4n]

Why “shaky”?

[@bipl8989]

Pilot's greatest responsibility is to say no whenever necessary without hesitation.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

There are old pilots and there are daring pilots, but there are not many daring old pilots.

[@scottstp7084]

@@user-wl6bw3jl4n Shaky, uneasy, nervous, uncomfortable, etc. Hard to understand unless you’ve been face to face under that circumstance.

[@PeteDavidson-yl3ps]

I took a couple of lessons, felt I knew the basics, so having built a private air strip on my land I took delivery of a brand new Piper Trainer, I flew under the radar around my lake for years, then one morning on approach I nose dived rapidly into the tarmac destroying 70% of my plane and giving myself a near heart attack. It took only a few hours to conclude that metal fatigue on the trim tan link was the root cause. Well I didn’t waste any time I went straight out an purchased an updated version of this 1970’s Trainer , took a few weeks to prepare and the gloss sunshine off the wings paint was spectacular, probably the best Radio Control Model Plane I ever built….ya see I know my limits….she should have known her’s…..

[@WingsOverTO]

She? Why is this the fault of the IG stars? I’m not one to defend the (mostly) vacuous influencers out there, but there’s no evidence that the passengers knew anything about flying a small plane, and no reason they should have. This is squarely on that student pilot and instructor.

[@PeteDavidson-yl3ps]

Have ya seen the scale of, I hate to say Model Planes like forget 1/25 or 1/8 these are now 20+ feet in length with twin to quad turbine jet engines at 100mph ground speed….and the clubs are only getting bigger with Air Shows, Sponsors, Exhibits, Food Courts, Camping, Competitions weekend events fun for the entire family every scale including for the little kids rubber band wind up. I went on a Hamburger Run with a buddy from New Hampshire, we brought the wives flew 50 miles landed walked around ate a hamburgers drank Pepsi flew back…ok sat in some not so cool planes there were 34 planes in total but Honestly, participating in a RC event with 400 people was a blast, and the Swap Meet was even better, enough bargains to keep me building umpteen planes and projects all cold winter in my heated garage……

[@ravenzyblack]

@@WingsOverTO- How much you want to bet they were pressuring him with money. YOU try telling an “influencer” no. They can be very very spiteful and they actually have influence. That’s the sad part.

[@crooked-halo]

That was _spectacular!_ Thank you! I was so pissed off, ready to curse you in my reply, until I read the word "radio!"

[@PeteDavidson-yl3ps]

Exactly! That DIRTY 2 letter word NO and you’d have an Influencer of 11 year olds threatening oneself with total Armageddon on Social as well Non- Social Media….From Free this to Free That to Free Samples Gifts Trinkets. A friend of mine owns a Hotel in Jamaica, he’s done really well for himself, he does any work needed from repair of toilets to door locks to arborist to food prep, and low and behold every once and a while some “ IG Influencer “ will show up demanding courtesy accommodations, oh he also doubles as Security lol and makes sure the door smacks their ass Male or Female on the way out into the street. He’s come 20 years with no IG 👎 nada. :)

[@ianragoonanan5814]

The hardest thing to deal with is that the fact that it could have been prevented, but everyone is already dead. Kobe's crash was so senseless and preventable as well.

[@Inyourhideyhole]

Facts

[@unlisted773]

Well done debrief. Thank you for helping us all learn to be better pilots and instructors.

[@pilot-debrief]

Any time!

[@that_guy_you_hate]

I grew up with Erik, we were in Scouts together.He was a good guy. His death is unfortunate, but I hope other pilots can learn from it.

[@stellviahohenheim]

Too bad he had to involve himself with influencers

[@trollhunter6934]

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[@truehighs7845]

@@stellviahohenheim Do we all have the same feeling the influencer pushed to pilot so to show off with the chicks, was on a down of coke and acted like a moron? What was all that giggling at takeoff? Did I mention he lied about weight in a total oblivion of how critical it is for planes?

[@irw4350]

"unfortunate" ??............ I thought he was your friend ??

[@williamchaplick4227]

As none license pilot, tell you shit happens 🙄

[@superstitionmushrooms]

I live 30 min away from where this happened and I remember it vividly.. Anyways, I'm doing checkride prep and testing for my PPL in a few weeks. These videos have helped me understand that basically every crash can be traced back to human error in one way or another. It's helping me learn from other peoples mistakes and hopefully will make me a safer pilot as I continue training for my commercial and eventually atp ratings. Thanks for taking your time to make these videos for us.

[@02WIFE]

Erick should have said no

[@therealrobinc]

Good luck & all the best with your check ride & your eventual career as a professional pilot. Stay humble, keep learning & stay alert.

[@tmayorca8770]

It also had a malfunctioning engine and it was a hot day .

[@sofia7374]

James posting a photo of his “new purchase” to impress people even though he just owned a fraction of the plane. Then, sitting in the left seat, also wanting to show off that he was a seasoned pilot, instead of the student pilot that he really was. James wanted to be a pilot for show and clout and it seems that all his friends trusted the judgement of someone inexperienced, unprofessional, and completely reckless.

[@davidjulian8536]

Eriks dumbest mistake (and I say Erik's because he was the only rated pilot so was responsible for the whole thing) was that he let two people sit in seats that were just thrown in the back, not bolted in, and presumably (if it had been used as a four seater) did not have seat belts. If he had just said "No" to taking the extra two people, the aircraft would have been under gross and inside CG limits. Then there would have been four live people in Vegas and two disappointed ones at Scottsdale.

[@emergencylowmaneuvering7350]

He didnt know Off The Runway RTO's either. Or Turnbacks and tried one dam too low too. Huge mistakes..

[@isitoveryet9525]

Meh….other guy holds some responsibility as well. I get that legally speaking, Erik would be responsible, but the other guy is hardly a victim. He seemed to care more about impressing the women, than he was with the safety of himself & the other passengers.

[@makeyourmark00]

Just as important as inflight communication, I think what could have really made a difference was a group text with Josh, James and Erik. Why wouldn't that happen so everyone could discuss aircraft performance/tolerances and flight details. Josh texting only James to ensure crucial details were being handled seems crazy to me given James known inexperience. We'll never know for sure, but Erik would have likely raised questions to some of James' responses and I sense Josh would have backed up Erik on thinking through things more thoroughly (e.g. hey, we can't accommodate 6 people here) vs the probable focus on getting to Vegas to party.

[@Bl00dMalice]

Doesnt mean James wasn't an idiot that caused the entire mess.

[@ArturoGarzaID]

That’s what happens when you try to show off for girls.

[@skydive1424]

No structural seats in the back means no seat belts. That alone would be reason not to take all of them. It would have fixed the weight and CG problem. The aircraft seems to be a Comanche 260 which is a good 4 seater but NOT a six seater! You're absolutely right; when liftoff is on the ragged edge of the stall and will not climb, the aircraft is talking to you... It seems that when young females are involved, normally competent guys lose their minds. Literally! It doesn't bear thinking how these people came to their end.

[@brandyballoon]

A man has enough blood to power his brain or his penis, but not both at the same time.

[@salnaturile8653]

I'm guessing the "260" part refers to the engine output hp? Which isn't a lot to begin with Now factor in the broken valve spring, and lack of maintenance that implies, and you're probably looking at under 200 hp, which is rediculous.

[@drogers5511]

I can really appreciate the pressure Erik felt by James to go ahead with the flight. It is really hard to say "NO" when everyone around you is wanting this to happen.

[@CharlesAnsman]

Too many pretty girls, clouded his mind, He was thinking with his little head

[@numb0t]

Man's just a simple noob. Anyone can say no. It's your pride, that got him killed

[@jonkaminsky8382]

⁠@@whatsMyNameAgainAgain I’m glad you’re here to chastise Charles for expressing his own opinion. How dare he say such things! Keep up the great work! 💪🏻

[@awesomeblossom2417]

Its really hard to say no when you have a bunch of hot girls looking at your. If there were a bunch of old grandmas and grandpas, Erik would have felt more comfortable.

[@drogers5511]

@@CharlesAnsman just guessing... I think it was probably more complicated than the pretty girls. Sure, your point is valid, but also the owner chimed in and also gave, if only tacit, his approval. I will go out on a limb and say he didn't have the courage to cancel the flight in the face of all of the opposition.

[@JC.SpdRcr5]

Thank you for uploading these videos. It's interesting enough for me to stop watching my usual videos and replace them with yours. Huge fan.

[@alabamaflip2053]

I am hooked on these videos. I am not a pilot and will probably never have the chance to be one. But these videos can be very useful in other areas of your life when it comes to going by the rules and using checklists as well as handling social situations when you need to speak up. Many times my heart goes out to the love ones left behind after such an event as this. It effects so many more lives and is so sad when many of these accidents may have been prevented. Thank you by the way you handle these videos as I am sure it takes a lot of time to make as well as think through. Great job! Lots of love from Alabama!

[@pilot-debrief]

Thank you so much!

[@GulfCoastTim]

Well said, sometimes rules are created because something had happened in the past. As far as being a pilot, try it virtually like I do...with Flight Sim. 😀

[@alabamaflip2053]

@@GulfCoastTim That is an excellent idea. I guess I never thought about it because I am not into video games but Flight Sim would be different. I think I would really enjoy that. Date night with my wife is coming up. I will have her onboard (no pun intended) before dessert.

[@GulfCoastTim]

@@alabamaflip2053 It definitely fills my flying void, at least virtually. So realistic how it is now. I used to take flying lessons but that was over 20 years ago. Didn't get my PPL because I had a job back then that was making my flight training difficult.

[@billyrock8305]

“Star”? Never heard of her. 🙈

[@Pedroism]

And will never will

[@j.a.3138]

@timp.7795 Instagram models and stars

[@laz288]

Living in Scottsdale I remember this accident. In 2003 there was another crash where Piper N3636Q took off from the same airport and flew right into the McDowell Mts. Thousands of people witnessed it as it was at sunset over a busy area. You should do a Debrief on that accident.

[@bdberg]

I remember that one.

[@kristinstrickland1038]

This channel is so fascinating. You do an amazing job.

[@AkulaSpawn]

It is amazing how well trained professional pilots just seem to 'wing-it', instead of following their training and the rules.

[@jhoughjr1]

Makes one question how professional and trained they really are

[@AW-kr9fl]

The scariest thing is he sounded so calm on the radio with ATC just seconds before the crash. Probably had no idea of the danger they were in

[@madmaximilian5783]

​@@AW-kr9fljust the thought of piloting with this group sounds risky, they were all just young kids.

[@bubba99009]

@@AW-kr9fl I think his last cut off message was going to be that they needed to immediately return to the airport so he probably had some idea at that point that they were way overweight and needed to dump about 400 lbs of influencers, cameras, makeup and clothes.

[@michaelsmoak1146]

The fact that the far aft seats weren’t secured properly to the airframe would have been an “easy out” for Eric.

[@sarahalbers5555]

Right???

[@briantii]

Also I think it’s worth calling out that the turn is likely what did them in. Wings level and keep the minuscule climb going would have likely been another way out once in the air. Obviously never take off over gross to begin with, but also don’t give up what little lift you have by turning when you need all the lift you can get.

[@brandyballoon]

Agreed. And if you have to turn, keep it shallow. A steep turn when on the wrong side of the power curve is never a good idea. I notice it was also a left turn - assuming the prop on that plane rotates clockwise, a right turn might've been a better idea.

[@DurzoBlunts]

Absolutely

[@kennethlane3896]

I must be brutally honest, when watching your channel for the first time my thoughts were: 1. This guy is too young to have all that knowledge. 2. This guy is too young to have retired from the Air Force.spent 3. This guy is too young to have graduated from the Air Force Academy. 4. This guy is too young to have done all that stuff, AND fly the F-18 AND fly the F-15 Strike Eagle. 5. Oh yea, he now flys for an Airline after doing all that stuff. Boy was I wrong. You are one special man. I am only guessing how you got call sign " Hoover". You sucked up information like nobody's business making everyone else look silly. I'm not a pilot and don't intend to be one, I just like watching interesting presentations. Respect for you.